Sending a child to an overnight summer camp can be daunting, but it might just be one of the most significant gifts you ever give your child. “It was scary for me to send [my daughter] to a camp where she didn’t know anyone,” writes a 2016 parent, “but I am glad I overcame my worries, and she got to experience your amazing and professional camp…she returned home with great experiences, a lot more confidence, a better image of herself and great plans for her future.”
For many children, overnight camp is their first foray into a world without family for constant support. They learn they can be independent, while discovering the co-dependency that their peers and a nurturing staff team provides. They get to decide how others see them, and at Centauri that means validation as a writer, artist filmmaker or performer. They learn vital life skills such as advocacy, self confidence, problem solving, mediation and more. And more often than not, they discover a community – and deep, close friendships – that will play a significant role in their lives for years to come.
Let’s suppose you appreciate all this – but you’re still anxious about the ‘letting go’ part. How can you be sure the staff will be supportive? Will they treat your child with dignity and respect? Will they contact you, if your child seems unhappy, or struggles to settle in? The only way to be certain of all this is to do your research. Here’s some tips:
- Read everything you can about the camp. Read the website, online reviews, the brochure and so on. Discuss all this with your child.
- Check the camp’s credentials. How long have they been in operation? Are they members of the Ontario Camps Association? Who are the directors, and what experience do they have?
- Call the camp and arrange to chat with the directors, by phone, or Skype, or in person. Ask questions about their hiring policies, health and safety, their mandate. Ask under what circumstances the camp will make contact with parents to update them on their child’s wellbeing. Address your own child’s individual needs – for example, you may want to know how the camp deals with allergies. Invite your child to ask questions of their own.
- Make a decision in consultation with your son or daughter. You want a safe, nurturing camp. They want a camp that fits their interests; a place where they can make friends and have fun. Find a camp that fits both sets of needs, and you’ve hit the jackpot.
And after you’ve booked? Stay in contact with the camp and read everything they send to you! Making sure your child has an accurate understanding of what to expect, packs the right supplies, turns up at the right time – these things are important. After all, they are about to embark on one of the most exciting and rewarding adventures of their childhood – one that may have significance for the rest of their lives.
If you would like to reach us to discuss Centauri Summer Arts Camp, you can do so at julie@centauriartscamp.com. We’d be happy to answer your questions on the phone (416 766 7124), via Skype, or in person if you live near Toronto.
Julie Hartley
Director
Centauri Summer Arts Camp
+1 416 766 7124